Women's Soccer 10/10/08 -- Loras (Iowa) 1, Augsburg 0
GAME BOXSCORE | AUGSBURG SEASON STATISTICS
MINNEAPOLIS (10/10/08) -- Alex Clesen (SR, Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township HS) scored on a penalty kick in the 24th minute, the only goal Loras College would need in a 1-0 victory over Augsburg College in a nonconference battle of regional women's soccer contenders on Friday evening at Augsburg's Edor Nelson Field.
The Duhawks (9-3-0 overall) drew a foul in the penalty box at the 24:00 mark, and Clesen converted for her team-leading eighth goal of the season on the penalty kick for the Duhawks, who won their third straight game.
Augsburg (8-2-3 overall), which saw its eight-game unbeaten streak (5-0-3) snapped, was outshot by a 20-18 margin. Goalkeeper Maggie DeGroot (SR, Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha West HS) collected nine saves in goal for the Auggies.
"This was a tough game against two of the best teams in the region," said Augsburg head coach Mike Navarre. "The game itself is difficult and often unfair. We talk a lot about the importance of having to overcome adversity. On Tuesday, we overcame an own goal against Gustavus. Tonight we had to overcome a penalty kick. We had plenty of opportunities, but simply could not put the ball on the frame. Nevertheless, I was proud of hard we played. This game will help us, it will only strengthen our resolve."
The Auggies also suffered some tough luck during the course of the game, as two shots in the first 17 minutes hit goalposts, and a long drive by Felicia Faison (SR, Minneapolis, Minn./South HS) hit the crossbar in the 60th minute. A shot by Kelsey Watsabaugh (SR, Eden Prairie, Minn./Hopkins HS) missed just high in the 72nd minute. Late in the game, the Auggies moved to an aggressive, three-forward set and had several scoring attempts, including another shot by Faison that was saved by Loras goalkeeper Torey Murray (SR, Des Moines, Iowa/Lincoln HS) in the 88th minute.
Murray collected two saves in goal for her fifth shutout of the season for the Duhawks. Kate Young (FY, Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah HS) had eight shots for Loras, with Clesen adding four. Faison, Lacey Hoover (SO, Duluth, Minn./Central HS) and Katie Medd (SR, Mankato, Minn./East HS) had three shots each for Augsburg.
Augsburg returns to Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play next Friday (10/17) at 4 p.m. with a game at Bethel. Loras has another nonconference game against an MIAC foe this weekend, playing at St. Benedict on Sunday (10/12) at 12 p.m.
